, 1887-12-29
THE SPOKANE INDIANS.

The Indians seen around Spokane
Falls belong partly to the band of the
Middle and Upper Spokanes; the lower
ones being on the Spokane or Lots
reservation, near Fort Spokane along
the Columbia. These Middle Spokanes
have been accustomed from time
immemorial to camp around the falls
and the banks of the Spokane river,
whilst the Upper Spokanes camped
on Peone prairie, where few had
small farms and also along the Little
Spokane river. Thus nearly all con-
tinue to lead a romantic life
an roam from one place to another
in search Of roots, berries, fish and
game. Few work little in town,
but the vast majority lead an idle,
lazy life, passing a great part of
their time gambling and drinking
whenever they can possibly get
whisky. They see with an evil eye
the great influx of whites, and as all
around they see their camas prairies
turned into wheat fields, and their
fish and game diminishing they are
becoming convinced that their days are
numbered and that they are doomed
: 10 perish. Yet with all that they are
unwilling to exchange their graveled
prairies for the best farming land on
various reservations, where they
would be furnished with farm imple-
ments, and receive start in making
their own living. This may seem
strange and foolish in them, and if to-
day they are destitute and wretched
tribe they have nobody to blame but
themselves. Yet such is not fully the
case. The government is great
deal to blame, having thus far failed
to do anything for them. Although
,, as far back as 1853 an Indian com
mission, among whom was Governor
Stephens. was appointed by con-
gress to visit the northwestern
: Indian tribes, locate them on
reservations, and compensate them
for their land, and thus prevent
trouble when immigration would set
, in. Yet, thus far the hostile tribes
only were visited by that commission
and well treated by them to the great
disgust and discomfort of the Spo-
kanes, and other tribes who thus began
to be convinced that the only way to be
heard at all by the government was
} to give trouble. However, the day
for Indians to give trouble is gone,
as their backbone has been broken
by the sight OF the to many whites
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been for that they were ready to break
out q few years ago, when at one
time they were provoked by the muir
der of one of their number by white
men whilst in jail, and again when
but year later one Of their number
was taken out Of the county Jail and
lynched for crime he was supposed,
on the slightest evidencet to have COM
mitted, and it was proven after his
death he had not done. Thanks, how
ever, to Major Waters who a few years
ago called the attention OF the govern
ment to tho neglect of the first
northwestern Commission having
failed to treat with the Spokanes and
other tribes, under his charge n new
commission was appointed, that re-
sumed the work OF the former one.
1t CAME here last spring and the
readers of the REVIEW are familiar
with its work, which was to compen-
safe the Spokane Indians for two mil
lion acres of land (whose heart is
I Spokane Falls) recognized by the
government as being the country
belonging to them, and to locate them
on some reservation. Suffice it to say,
therefore, that the action Of that COM
mission will be submitted TO the pres
ent congress for ratification, and that
then the majorityif if not all of the
Spokanes will he moved on some
reservation, and that soon the sight Of
an Indian in our midst will be as
agreeable as it is now repulsive, and
that from an object of disgust he
will become one Of curiosity.
Meanwhile they refuse to cease
camping around Spokane Falls lest
people might believe that they arc
going to give up their country with
out any compensation. And when
reproached with their wretched pow
erty, and told Of the wealth of their
neighborly Indians, they do not deny
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